WAUSA – The TeamMates Mentoring Program of Wausa was established in 2001 with a handful of mentor-mentee matches; in 2024, that number is at 37 and still growing.
TeamMates, based in Lincoln, serves more than 46,000 youth in 170-plus communities across Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. Mentors meet with their mentees oneon- one in school, once a week, during the academic year.
“We believe that every student in Wausa can benefit from a mentor and that is our goal,” said Chris Johnson, the Wausa chapter’s program coordinator.
This quote comes from Claire, a Wausa senior mentee: “The past four years, I have had this amazing opportunity to get to know and love my TeamMate Haley. I will forever be grateful for this program for bringing me this amazing connection that will last a lifetime.”
TeamMates of Wausa is set to recognize its 2023-24 mentor-mentee matches on Jan. 19 at halftime of the Lady Vikings’ varsity basketball game at home against Winside during Basketball Parents Night.
“‘Be there’ to help us say thank you to all these mentors for giving their time weekly to be with their mentee,” Chris Johnson said.
The chapter will be honoring and saying thank you to the following mentors and their mentees: Haley Rasmussen, Bob Marks, Trevor McQuay, JoAnn Wamberg, Cathy Thierolf, Samantha Stevens, Rod Banks, Chris Johnson, Darren Vanness, Shelly Avery, Brad Hoesing, Jordan Johnson, Hannah McQuay, Terry Johnson, Katie Clausen, Deb Vanness, Amy Johnson, Brenda Leader, Carlie Johnston, Bruce Murdock, Trevor McFarland, Amy Burns, Shelly Story, Pat Sedivy, Dawn Baue, Kyle Stevens, JoAnn Kumm, Leanna Munter, Amanda Boyle, Jennifer Schindler, Kyle Korth, Wendy Ketelsen, Karla Koehler, Kendra Suhr, Jon Munter, Tanner Johnston and Casey Holencik.
“It will be an awesome sight to see these mentors and mentees get announced at halftime of the girls’ basketball game against Winside as they stretch across the gym floor,” Chris Johnson said.
“We will also be doing a ‘Chuck the Duck’ contest at halftime of the boys’ basketball game against Winside,” she said. “You purchase a rubber duck for a buck. During halftime, you throw the duck to a target; the closest duck wins a prize. It’s a fun night for everyone.”
For more information on becoming a mentor, people may contact Chris Johnson at WausaTeammates2019@gmail. com or any of TeamMates of Wausa’s board members, who, in addition to Johnson, are Chairman Darren Vanness, Nichole Aitken, Shane Anderson, Tanner Johnston, Scott Kinkaid, Michele Korth, Jane Wilbeck and Kyle Stevens, who also is the chapter’s school building coordinator.
